Rise of Raman spectroscopy in neurosurgery: a review

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Biomedical Optics
• Molecular Spectroscopy

Background:

• Raman spectroscopy (RS) has long shown clinical potential but has only recently seen application in neurosurgery.
• Few RS devices have successfully transitioned into the operating room environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize neurosurgical workflows and key translational milestones for clinical Raman spectroscopy (RS) use.
• To provide the necessary optics and data science background for implementing RS devices in neurosurgery.
• To review literature on Raman systems designed for neurosurgical applications.

Main Methods:

• Extensive literature review focusing on Raman systems for neurosurgical settings.
• Analysis of translational milestones and clinical implementation requirements.

Main Results:

• Raman sensing provides label-free molecular information intraoperatively.
• Successful clinical RS systems are ergonomic, have short integration times, and yield high-quality signals in suboptimal conditions.
• Data analysis is crucial for high-performance Raman sensing in complex brain tissue environments.

Conclusions:

• Next-generation Raman-based devices are entering operating rooms.
• Successful clinical translation of RS in neurosurgery necessitates collaboration between physicians, engineers, and data scientists.